Coolant leak

twodog35 · Apr 14, 2021

I have a 2014 ram 1500 3.6 pentistar.
For about a month I was smelling coolant when I would shut truck off after driving. But could never find a leak. And coolant was full. Tonight I went to get into truck shortly after getting home, notice a little coolant under passenger side front. Popped hood, could see wet on top of lower radiator hose and around it. Felt under hose all the way up to radiator and it was dry. Will be pressure testing system tomorrow, just curious if anyone else had a similar issue??

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16Ram4x4 · Apr 14, 2021

Years ago on my 89 Dakota I was smelling antifreeze and couldn't find the source of it.
This was my first go around with plastic end capped radiators.
So what was happening during warming up and cooling down cycles the radiator was leaking at the rubber gasket between the plastic top cap and radiator core.
What was strange about it is that it would only do it in the spring or fall with the cooler weather temperatures

GTyankee · Apr 15, 2021

Is your Radiator coolant level completely full, it should Not be
There should be some space between the cap & coolant

The Plastic Coolant reservoir should only be up to the line with coolant

The coolant that you saw, was it in front of the tire or under the cab?

twodog35 · Apr 15, 2021

Under truck directly below lower radiator hose

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PoMansRam · Apr 15, 2021

Coolant was on the lower hose, but it doesn't appear to be coming from the hose?

I'd clean it and see how/where it comes back.

The oil filter housing could also leak coolant externally because it's also the oil cooler. You'd see coolant pooling up in the valley of the block, but that would require a snake cam or some handywork with a dental mirror, etc to see it.

twodog35 · Apr 15, 2021

Ya but it's all dry on top and front of engine.
I have a feeling it might be the hose itself.

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Gabriel-K · Sep 8, 2021

I have a similar issue with coolant smell and no visible leaks. I read in another thread that dodges vent pressure which will give off the coolant smell. In same thread it was also mentioned that another cause is there could be a small leak that is burning off before a drop hits the ground. Which both of these make sense.

However, I am experiencing a constant coolant smell. Even after sitting all night. I live in a very warm climate area. Southwest Florida. So I can rule out cold weather being the culprit. And reservoir is at the correct level.

Anyone have any suggestions?

MOPAR78 · Sep 11, 2021

Have you looked at the underside of the water pump? I've had this similar problem and that was my leak/smell. Starts off real slow then gets progressively worse.

Good luck!

Rado · Sep 11, 2021

I am no help but Please Update when you find out where the leak is from ! Thanks

jerictownsend · Nov 26, 2021

I'm also searching for a mysterious coolant leak on my 2013 RAM 1500 w/ pentastar. Dealer did the 60K service, then two weeks later it overheated on a hot day with the A/C on. I pulled over, let the engine cool, next morning checked the coolant. I had to add 1.5 GALLONS to get it back on the stick. Went in for the 70K service, mentioned this on the ticket and to the person taking the order, asked them to check the coolant. Verified the coolant level was fine, here it is 3 weeks and 700 miles later and no coolant on the stick. Buying more today. Either they didn't check, *twice*, or my engine is spewing a lot of coolant and the techs didn't notice on either service.

jerictownsend · Nov 26, 2021

roughly a quart of coolant leaked in the last 1508 miles.

jerictownsend · Dec 5, 2021

Taking it to the dealer tomorrow. Still can't find any visible sign of a drip and they didn't notice anything unusual about the oil on the 70K service, after it had lost 1.5g of coolant.

DILLIGAF · Dec 5, 2021

Blacklight and coolant leak detection dye.

Brian2081 · Dec 7, 2021

Sounds like you might have a blown head gasket between cylinder and coolant passage, and are burning it.

jerictownsend · Dec 8, 2021

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I'm surprised it's happening at 60K miles on an engine I thought was doing well in terms of reliability. Waiting to hear back from the service department.

jerictownsend · Dec 8, 2021

Ugh. Gaskets in the oil cooler and transmission are both leaking, they had to do a pressure test to reproduce the leak. This is why I could never find the leak after I parked, the drips were drying off on the engine/tranny. The tech thinks the oil one failed first and that's why it almost overheated at 65K mi, and that brief bit of high temperature and low pressure took out the transmission gasket. $2300 to repair, which I guess is less than buying another truck and selling this one for parts. :-(

brad byron · Dec 18, 2021

dont rule out that it could be your engine oil cooler. it resides under the lower intake plenum and cools the oil with engine coolant.....both coursing thru the same unit.

jerictownsend · Dec 18, 2021

It was the coolant gaskets *in* the oil cooler and transmission. I had no idea coolant even went through those two places. The coolant was at least leaking outside the cooler and transmission otherwise this would have been really expensive.

Coolant leak

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